Finally, the Cranbrook Bucks are coming home.
The Bucks meet the Merritt Centennials in Friday’s home opener after posting a 2-2 record through their first four games of the season.
Cranbrook will be striving for consistency as they play host to the 1-3 Cents for a pair of games over the weekend, an element which has eluded the club through the first two weeks of the season.
Bucks fans will recognize plenty of familiar faces returning from last year’s lineup including goaltender Carter Capton, defenseman Willem Terwoord, forwards Blake Cotton, Jaxon Fuder and others.
The team’s leadership group boasts Donovan Frias as captain, he’s returning with twin brother Julian, and joined by assistant captains Jarrod Smith and Bryce Sookro.
Veteran forward Luke Pfoh is also back, after having secured an NCAA commitment to Bowling Green University last season.
Pfoh looks to leave a mark in what will likely be his final season in the BCHL.
“We always talk about how quick it [junior hockey] happened,” Pfoh says. “When you’re in your rookie year, people always tell you it goes by in a blink, and it really does.”
Smith and fellow forward Jaden Fodchuk are the only players remaining on the roster who suited up for the Bucks in the team’s initial season which was played in a pod format in Penticton through spring 2021.
These returning veterans are beginning to mesh with several new additions to Cranbrook’s roster, this as the league’s recruitment window has opened significantly with the BCHL’s decision to become independent from Hockey Canada’s governance.
This includes new Swedish imports Loke Sodergren and Oskar Cedarqvist.
While excitement is in the air, there is a need for the Bucks to strive for consistency to join the Interior Conference peloton as they aim to reestablish their position as Fred Page Cup contenders following last season’s second place finish.
Opening faceoff for Cranbrook’s slate of home games versus Merritt this weekend are 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Western Financial Place.
– Luke Pfoh – Forward, Cranbrook Bucks, #20
Comments